Each One Teach One
by Janet Farley, Ed.M.

PCSing there in June. What is the best route for cellphone and data?

This may be a stupid question, but what are the rules for taking babies on military shuttle buses?

Does anyone know of a pet-friendly, single-family home close to the base coming available in May/June?

Help! Our government issued washing machine won't work anymore. What number do I call for repairs?

Need to find a job fast…any suggestions? Arriving in two months…..

Does anyone know of playgroups for preschoolers?

Welcome to a brand new PCS season and the expected avalanche of incoming military community newbies and their many, many questions.

Whether brand new to the military lifestyle or simply new in the neighborhood, adjusting to a different environ can take time and concerted effort. Any milspouse who has experienced at least one PCS can relate.

Transition, as we all know, can be painful on many levels.

As that experienced and worldly spouse, or at least as one who knows how to find the commissary or the nearest Starbucks, you can help make the fresh faces feel a little more at home wherever home happens to be.   

• Ring the doorbell first. Channel your inner Pinterest goddess and greet your new neighbors with an allergy-free “welcome to the hood” gift basket. Serve them up a plate of your favorite go-to muffins or simply introduce yourself and let them know that you are available if they have any questions, need directions somewhere or just want to share a cup of coffee.
  
  
• Be a connector. You may not have all the answers your new neighbors seek, but you may know where they can find those answers out for themselves. Connect the dots for them where you can. For example, let them know where the military family support center is located and what they can do for them as they settle in. Tell them what cell/data plan you use and point job seekers to the employment readiness program. 
  
  
• If the newbies have children of any age, link them up with age appropriate contacts too. Military kids, as we all know, are fairly resilient superstars but it never hurts to facilitate that resiliency on a stealthy level for them.
  
  
• Invite the newbies to the next neighborhood cookout or offer to give them a driving tour of those good to know places that aren't quite so obvious when a new place is supposed to be home but doesn't quite feel like it just yet.
  
  
• Give them their space to settle in. While it's considered neighborly to make the first overtures, it's just plain creepy if you keep showing up when they least expect it.

It doesn't take a lot of effort to make a new military family feel comfortable in the community and the intangible dividends can be great. Who knows?  You might even meet your very own new best friend in the process.

Janet I. Farley, EdM, is a career transition expert, military family advocate and the author of the soon to be released Military Life 101: Basic Training for New Military Families (Rowman & Littlefield), designed to answer many of the questions that service members and their families may have about life in and around the armed forces.

Have an employment question for Janet? Ask here. Your question/answer may be printed in a future issue.